Making the dinner portion more entertaining

lenore023

So my wedding will be the typical, soup, salad, entree dessert type dinner.  That is how most weddings I have been to are. Personally, I think the dinner portion gets a little long and drawn out.  I remember the last one I went to our table got a little bored and ready for the first dance/dancing portion of the evening to start. 

Does anyone have any ideas on how to make that portion more entertaining or different?  Is there anything surprising or different you have seen to make it stand out and not just be your typical wedding?  Perhaps something in between courses? or maybe I shouldnt mess with that portion of the wedding and let it be a regular dinner.

Thanks!

zitiqueen

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_making-dinner-portion-entertaining?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:64796b7c-dc4b-40b5-a1bd-6ad017301213Post:1e49b488-35d7-4dc8-bd93-d5aa985e8808">Making the dinner portion more entertaining</a>:
[QUOTE]So my wedding will be the typical, soup, salad, entree dessert type dinner.  That is how most weddings I have been to are. Personally, I think the dinner portion gets a little long and drawn out.  I remember the last one I went to our table got a little bored and ready for the first dance/dancing portion of the evening to start.  Does anyone have any ideas on how to make that portion more entertaining or different?  Is there anything surprising or different you have seen to make it stand out and not just be your typical wedding?  Perhaps something in between courses? or maybe I shouldnt mess with that portion of the wedding and let it be a regular dinner. Thanks!
Posted by lenore023[/QUOTE]

Hire mimes.

J&K10910

I dont' need entertaining while I eat.  I would eat and talk to the people at the table.  I probably wouldn't pay attention to anything else going on, honestly.

jessicabessica

We did our first dance and then the hora right after we were introduced, so the dance floor was "open" during the meal.  When our guests sat down, the soup course was already at the tables, then salad was served, and then tables were released to the buffet to get the main course, but people were up and dancing between courses.  Although I think it was mostly slow dancing, since that was the mealtime music.  

Other than that, I don't think you need more entertainment.  Have nice background music at a volume low enough that people can speak with each other.  

Simply Fated

I would say background music would be enough, low enough so people can talk without having to yell, but danceable enough for those who are done eating. Maybe a short slideshow?

tldh

The best wedding I went to that had a lot of food let the guests dance between courses - a good thing too because you had to burn off calories as you made your way through the dinner.  The DJ would announce when the next course was being served.

Avion22

I think doing things in between courses actually  makes it seem MORE drawn out to me.  I'd rather move through the dinner a little more quickly -- not so quickly that people have to eat too fast, or plates are cleared before they are done, but I prefer to move from one course straight into another.  The once exception might be dessert, if you're serving wedding cake.  I kind of like to have that later, after some dancing.  If you're serving a different plated desert (or buffet) then I think it's fine to move right on into that.

almost-a-bride

We had the speeches and F/D & M/S dances during the meal. Worked out extremely well. Other then that there was background music and good conversation!

AdeleDazeem

I agree with having the dance floor open.

The only time I get bored eating is when the time between courses is super duper long.  If you put more stuff in there, I'm more likely to be aggravated that we aren't, ya know, *eating*. 

Sometimes things can't be helped so opening the dance floor does allow for some distraction.

TiffannieF

Not sure about the dancing thing.  If I'm talking to people while eating I don't want to fight with the DJ/music...background music is much more subtle though. 

I personally don't think you have a problem.  The only time where I have felt that dinner was "drawn" out is when the DJ waited for the B&G to walk around to ALL the tables before starting first dances plus I didn't know anybody other than my date.  I would talk with your DJ and see if he/she has any recommendations.  But other alternatives could be: slideshow maybe "shoe"/newlywed game.